Boy A (2007)

The story of a young Jack, newly released from serving a prison sentence for a violent crime he committed as a child.

Director:

John Crowley

Writers:

Jonathan Trigell (novel), Mark O'Rowe (screenplay)

Stars:

Andrew Garfield, Peter Mullan, Shaun Evans

13 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Andrew Garfield	...	Jack Burridge
Peter Mullan	...	Terry
Siobhan Finneran	...	Kelly
Alfie Owen	...	Eric Wilson
Victoria Brazier	...	Teacher
Skye Bennett	...	Angela
Madeleine Rakic-Platt	...	Schoolgirl
Josef Altin	...	Bully
Dudley Brewis	...	2nd Bully
Leigh Symonds	...	Eric's Dad
Maria Gough	...	Eric's Mum
Taylor Doherty	...	Philip Craig
Jeremy Swift	...	Dave
Shaun Evans	...	Chris
Carlene Hanson	...	Waitress

Storyline

A young man is released from prison after many years and given a new identity in a new town. Aided by a supervisor who becomes like a father to him he finds a job and friends and hesitantly starts a relationship with a compassionate girl. But the secret of the heinous crime he committed as a boy weighs down on him, and he learns that it is not so easy to escape your past.

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Plot Keywords:

new identity | child abuse | murder of a child | redemption | rehabilitation | 

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Taglines:

Who Decides Who Gets A Second Chance?

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, sexuality, some disturbing content and brief drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Japan]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 September 2008 (Singapore)

Also Known As:

A Rapaz

Filming Locations:

Manchester, Greater Manchester, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,024, 27 July 2008, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$106,368, 22 August 2008

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cuba Pictures, Film Four

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In a retrospective scene young Eric and his friend Philip are walking around impersonating Spider-Man shooting web and swinging along the street. Andrew Garfield, the actor playing old Eric/ Jack, is Peter Parker/Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man (2012).

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Quotes

Michelle: [showing her breasts posing for Jack's photograph] What?
Jack Burridge: [laughing] You're fucking nuts. Carry on. Keep going! Keep going! Keep going!

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Connections

References The Office (2001)

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Soundtracks

With Every Heartbeat
Performed by Robyn Carlsson (as Robyn) featuring Andreas Kleerup (as Kleerup)

User Reviews

Good but dark

A young man is released from prison after being incarcerated since he was a child. His attempts to adjust to the outside world aren't always successful.

This isn't a feel good movie about a struggle for redemption or the effects of rehabilitation. This is a dark, gritty and realistic view of how things could be for a person newly released after a horrible crime.

There isn't a lot of graphic bloodshed; most of that is implied instead of being played for shock value. That's good; this movie doesn't need any more shock value than is already portrayed. You aren't particularly encouraged to sympathize with the ex-con, nor are you encouraged to condemn him. Instead the film makes you an objective observer to his trials and tribulations, his attempts to get into society with as little trouble as possible, the reactions of people who know and work with him.